More specifically - most studies of women's philanthropy in the past have included married couples, which makes it hard to separate women's giving from men's. This study included 8,000 households headed by either single women or single men. Highlights:

* At the lowest income level in the study (people earning $23,509 or less), 35.2% of women gave to charity, compared to 25.7% of men.* Among people who made more than $103,000, 96% of women gave to charity, compared to 75% of men.* Never married ($783) and divorced or separated ($641) women gave more on average than never married ($498) or divorced or separated ($483) men.* Men's giving outstripped women in one category, those earning $23,510 - $43,499; authors of the study plan to investigate this anomaly further. Widowed men also gave more to charity than widowed women.

Conventional fundraising wisdom has long held that men give more than women. This study matters because it demonstrates that this isn't true, and that fundraisers (and non-profits in general) should pay closer attention to their female donors, or potential potential donors.

What else could be going on here? Do a lot of men not give to charity until they get married, and their wives encourage them to do so? Or, once they get married, they feel like it's time to take up "grown up" responsibilities, like philanthropy? Hey guys, what's your take on this?

Thursday, October 21, 2010

The 2011 Social Impact Business Plan Competition is open until December 10. Qualified nonprofits can win "up to $100,000 in financial and consulting awards." The Competition is sponsored by Social Impact Exchange, which is backed by some heavy-hitters, including the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and The Rockefeller Foundation. Find more information HERE, and spread the word!

PITCH: Fundraising and Philanthropy Consulting

Philanthropy is a credo, a calling, and a source of creativity and inspiration. PITCH provides fundraising consulting services to individuals and organizations in the non-profit community -- grantwriting, training, and strategic planning. PITCH also provides philanthropy consulting to donors of every wish and wallet -- whether they are donating $50 or $50,000.